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14.7
8.2
Journals
Antioxidants
Special Issues
Interplay Between Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Stress
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Interplay Between Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Stress

A Special Issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 October 2026 | Viewed by 5987

Editor

Prof. Dr. Sunmin Park

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Bioconvergence, Hoseo University, Asan 31499, Republic of Korea
2. Department of Food and Nutrition, Obesity/Diabetes Research Center, Hoseo University, Asan 31499, Republic of Korea
Interests: gut microbiome; nutrigenomics; nutritional epidemiology; insulin resistance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The complex bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiota and oxidative stress represents a rapidly evolving research frontier with profound implications for human health and disease. The gut microbiota influences oxidative stress through host metabolism modulation, the regulation of antioxidant enzymes, and the maintenance of gut homeostasis. Oxidative stress simultaneously influences microbial composition and function. This intricate interplay affects multiple physiological systems, from immune regulation to neurodegeneration.

Recent advances reveal that a balanced microbiome plays a key role in preserving redox homeostasis, while dysbiosis disrupts this equilibrium, directly influencing immune cell function and inflammatory responses. The therapeutic potential of targeting the microbiota–oxidative stress axis has emerged as particularly promising, with emerging evidence suggesting potential epigenetic mechanisms that could offer novel therapeutic approaches in metabolic and degenerative diseases.

For this Special Issue, we welcome original research, comprehensive reviews, and innovative perspectives examining the mechanisms underlying microbiota–oxidative stress interactions, therapeutic interventions targeting this axis, and translational applications in metabolic disorders, neurodegeneration, and immune dysfunction. We particularly encourage submissions exploring the following topics:

  • Oxidative Stress Mechanisms: Studies investigating how microbial metabolites modulate cellular redox balance and antioxidant defense systems;
  • Inflammation–Microbiota Crosstalk: Research examining how gut dysbiosis triggers inflammatory cascades and vice versa;
  • Immune System Modulation: Manuscripts exploring microbiota-mediated immune regulation, T-cell differentiation, and autoimmune disease pathogenesis;
  • Integrated Pathways: Studies elucidating the molecular networks connecting oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and immune dysfunction through microbial mediation.

We welcome work that uses novel biomarkers, personalized medicine approaches, and clinical trial data to evaluate combined antioxidant–microbiome–immunomodulatory therapies.

Prof. Dr. Sunmin Park
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antioxidants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gut microbiota
  • redox
  • human health
  • gut homeostasis

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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30 pages, 13136 KB  
Article
Soursop-Derived Gut Metabolites Restore Adipose Metabolic Homeostasis and Attenuate Fructose-Induced Adipotoxicity: Mechanistic Insights into the Soursop–Gut–Adipose Axis
by Ochuko L. Erukainure and Chika I. Chukwuma
Antioxidants 2026, 15(9), 1106; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15091106 - 2 Sep 2026
Abstract
Adipotoxicity is a major contributor to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and increasing evidence highlights the gut–adipose axis as a promising therapeutic target. Soursop (Annona muricata) is rich in phytochemicals that can be biotransformed by the gut microbiota into bioactive [...] Read more.
Adipotoxicity is a major contributor to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and increasing evidence highlights the gut–adipose axis as a promising therapeutic target. Soursop (Annona muricata) is rich in phytochemicals that can be biotransformed by the gut microbiota into bioactive metabolites with metabolic benefits. The present study investigated whether metabolites generated by in vitro fecal fermentation of soursop fruit (SWSF) and peel (SWSFP) protect against fructose-induced adipotoxicity. SWSF and SWSFP were fermented with rat fecal microbiota, and the resulting metabolites were evaluated in an ex vivo fructose-induced adipotoxicity model using perigonadal white adipose tissue. Activities of enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, the polyol pathway, glutathione metabolism, glyoxalase-1 activity, purinergic signaling, and inflammatory lipid metabolism were determined. GC–MS-based metabolomics and pathway enrichment analyses were performed on fecal and adipose tissues. Soursop fermentation significantly remodeled the fecal metabolome, enriching metabolites associated with fatty acid metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, β-oxidation, sterol metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism. Fructose-induced adipotoxicity disrupted glucose metabolism, activated the polyol pathway, impaired glutathione metabolism and glyoxalase-1 activity, suppressed ATPase and ENTPDase activities, and elevated 5-LOX and 12/15-LOX activities. Treatment with soursop-enriched fecal metabolites significantly reversed these alterations in a dose-dependent manner. Adipose metabolomics further demonstrated restoration of pathways associated with fatty acid biosynthesis, mitochondrial β-oxidation, glycerolipid metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, and polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism, indicating improved lipid homeostasis and reduced inflammatory lipid signaling. SWSF and SWSFP generally exhibited greater metabolic protection than the reference antioxidant compound, gallic acid. Soursop-derived gut metabolites attenuate fructose-induced adipotoxicity by coordinately restoring glucose metabolism, redox homeostasis, carbonyl detoxification, purinergic signaling, and lipid metabolism through the gut–adipose axis. These results suggest soursop as a potential functional food for preventing and managing adipose tissue dysfunction and metabolic disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interplay Between Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Stress)
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Review

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43 pages, 4185 KB  
Review
Microbiota-Derived Metabolites in the Epigenetic Regulation of Redox Homeostasis
by Patricia Mester, Sara Martina Steinmann, Simon Mehler, Martina Müller and Karsten Gülow
Antioxidants 2026, 15(7), 897; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15070897 - 20 Jul 2026
Viewed by 555
Abstract
Redox homeostasis is essential for intestinal and systemic health and is regulated by antioxidant defense systems and redox-sensitive signaling pathways such as the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the nuclear factor ‘kappa-light-chain-enhancer’ of activated B-cells (NF-κB). Disturbances in this balance [...] Read more.
Redox homeostasis is essential for intestinal and systemic health and is regulated by antioxidant defense systems and redox-sensitive signaling pathways such as the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the nuclear factor ‘kappa-light-chain-enhancer’ of activated B-cells (NF-κB). Disturbances in this balance promote oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and disease progression. Increasing evidence indicates that microbiota-derived metabolites act as key modulators of redox biology by shaping host gene expression through receptor-mediated signaling, metabolic regulation, and chromatin-associated mechanisms, including histone modifications, DNA methylation, and changes in chromatin accessibility. This review discusses how major classes of microbiota-derived and microbiota-modulated metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), secondary bile acids, tryptophan-derived metabolites, polyphenol metabolites, hydrogen sulfide, and lipid mediators, influence redox-sensitive signaling and epigenetic regulation. We highlight their effects on intestinal barrier integrity and immune cell function, with particular emphasis on macrophage polarization and T-cell differentiation. Finally, we consider the emerging translational relevance of the microbiota–metabolite–epigenetic axis, while emphasizing that biomarker development and therapeutic applications require further mechanistic validation and clinical studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interplay Between Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Stress)
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30 pages, 1792 KB  
Review
From Dysbiosis to Inflammation: Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Stress in Atopic Dermatitis
by Patrycja Lipska, Kamila Łukańko, Julia Sobczak, Ivanna Lazarchuk and Anna Duda-Madej
Antioxidants 2026, 15(3), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15030299 - 27 Feb 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2539
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis with a complex etiopathogenesis that, despite extensive research, remains incompletely understood. The disorder affects a substantial proportion of the global population and is associated with a significant clinical burden. In recent years, increasing attention has [...] Read more.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis with a complex etiopathogenesis that, despite extensive research, remains incompletely understood. The disorder affects a substantial proportion of the global population and is associated with a significant clinical burden. In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward the gut microbiota as a potential modulator of the course of inflammatory diseases, including AD. The aim of this review is to critically examine current evidence regarding the association between gut dysbiosis and the exacerbation of inflammatory processes observed in AD. Available studies suggest that alterations in gut microbiota composition may lead to dysregulation of the gut–skin axis, increased intestinal barrier permeability, and activation of pro-inflammatory mechanisms, thereby contributing to the amplification of AD symptoms. Overall, the analyzed findings suggest that the gut microbiota represents a significant yet underexplored component of AD pathogenesis, and that its modulation may define a novel direction for future therapeutic strategies. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying the gut–skin axis may not only inform the development of preventive approaches targeting gut microbiota regulation but also support a broader view of AD as a systemic disorder in which redox imbalance is critically involved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interplay Between Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Stress)
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32 pages, 2106 KB  
Review
Gut Microbial Composition, Oxidative Stress, and Immunity in Metabolic Disease: Toward Personalized Interventions
by Xuangao Wu, Baide Mu, Guanhao Li, Rui Du and Sunmin Park
Antioxidants 2026, 15(2), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15020175 - 29 Jan 2026
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1875
Abstract
This review examines how distinct gut microbial community configurations—characterized by differential enrichment of Bacteroides, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Lachnospira—may be associated with variations in host redox homeostasis through microbiota-derived metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, and tryptophan [...] Read more.
This review examines how distinct gut microbial community configurations—characterized by differential enrichment of Bacteroides, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Lachnospira—may be associated with variations in host redox homeostasis through microbiota-derived metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, and tryptophan derivatives. These compositional patterns represent reproducible features across populations and correlate with differential disease susceptibility in metabolic disorders. While microbial communities exist along compositional continua rather than discrete clusters, stratification based on dominant patterns offers a pragmatic framework for interpreting large-scale microbiome datasets and guiding precision nutrition interventions. Observational evidence suggests Bacteroides-enriched communities may associate with pro-inflammatory signatures, whereas Prevotella- Ruminococcus, Proteobacteria, Bifidobacterium, and Lachnospira-enriched configurations may exhibit anti-inflammatory or antioxidant characteristics in certain populations. However, inter-population variability and species- and strain-level heterogeneity limit generalization. Condition-dependent effects are exemplified by Prevotella copri, which demonstrates pro-inflammatory responses in specific settings despite beneficial profiles in others. When dysbiosis compromises intestinal barrier integrity, microbial translocation may amplify chronic oxidative stress and immune activation. We evaluate therapeutic potential of beneficial genera including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium while examining the dose-dependent, context-specific, and sometimes paradoxical effects of key metabolites. Microbiota-stratified therapeutic strategies—personalizing dietary, probiotic, or prebiotic interventions to baseline community composition—show promise but remain at proof-of-concept stage. Current evidence derives predominantly from cross-sectional and preclinical studies; prospective interventional trials linking community stratification with oxidative stress biomarkers remain scarce. The community–redox relationships presented constitute a hypothesis-generating framework supported by mechanistic plausibility and observational associations, rather than established causal pathways. Future research should prioritize intervention studies assessing whether aligning therapeutic approaches with baseline microbial configurations improves outcomes in oxidative stress-related metabolic disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interplay Between Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Stress)
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